Vacuum breaker



Nov. 8, 1949 w. A. LEBUs 2,487,454

VACUUM BREAKER Filed May 14, 1947,

Patented Nov. 8, i949 VACUUM BREAKER William A. Lebus, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to The Protectoseal Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 14, 1947, seria1No.`74s,03e

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a vacuum breaker for containers of gasoline, or other highly volatile liquids, and its principal object is to provide a simple device for admitting air to the container Whenever a partial vacuum is created therein by reason of the discharge of liquid from the container.

Another object is to provide a vacuum breaker of simple yet efficient form and which is not likely to get out of repair.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this specification and with said objects and advantages in view this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and more particularly dened in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawing accompanying this specification in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container equipped with a vacuum breaker embodying the simple form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of certain members of the vacuum breaker; and

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing the reference character 4 designates a container for containing gasoline, vor other highly volatile liquids and it is here shown in the form of a cylindrical can having a dome-shaped top 5.

To the top 5 is welded, or otherwise secured an internally threaded bushing 5, into which is screwed the threaded end of a nozzle l which is usually provided with a valve actuating lever 8. A iame proof re baflie 9 leads from the nozzle into the interior of the container.

Welded, or otherwise secured to the top 5 of the container is a neck I 0, which encloses a filler opening I l and as a preference the edge portion of the neck is bent down, as at I2, to provide a smooth edge for the neck. A name proof re baille 33 extends down into the container from the neck. The flame, proof re baiiles 9, 33, may be constructed in accordance with the disclosure in my prior Patent No. 2,351,526, dated June 13, 1944.

Welded, or otherwise secured to the neck I Il are ears I3, which are connected by a pin I4. and pivoted upon said pin I4 is a lever I5 which extends diametrically across the neck IIJ. The lever is formed with a handle I5a by means of which it is manipulated. Surrounding the pin I4 is a sleeve I6, and coiled about the sleeve I6 are two coils I I of a coiled spring I8, the ends I 9 of which bear against the lever I5, the two coils are connected by members 20, which have a cross connection 2| that bears against the side of the neck ID. Preferably, the lever I5 is forked at its pivotal end, and the furcations 22 of the fork surround the pin I4.

A closure 23 is provided for closing the open end of the neck I0, and as shown said closure comprises a flanged cap 24 on the underside of which is held a pliable gasket 25 composed of treated leather, or other pliable material, which will not be injuriously affected by the contents of the container.

Secured to the cover 24 is a hollow post 26, formed at its lower end with a reduced .hollow flaring neck 2'I, which is secured in a flaring opening 28 in the cover. The post extends into a socket member 2S formed in the lever I5 and is connected to said lever by a pin 3l), here shown in the form of a cotter pin, which extends through the socket member of the lever and through the hollow post 26. There is suflicient clearance between the pin 30 and wall 3| of the bore 32 in the post, which receives the cotter pin, to allow air to now into the hollow of the post whenever the hereinafter described valve is unseated.

,Supported within the container, here shown as supported immediately below the closure 23 is a housing 34, which contains the valve mechanism of the vacuum breaker. Projecting up from the top wall of the housing is a hollow screw threaded stud 36, which is threadedly secured in the post 26.

Formed upon the lower face of the top wall 35 is an annular rib 3l of tapered cross section, which acts as a seat for a disc valve 38, which is yieldably urged in an upward direction by a light coiled compression spring 39 to seat the disc valve upon the seat 3l. As shown the disc valve comprises a pliable disc 40 and a iianged backing disc 4I. y

The lower open end of the housing is closed by a disc or disc-like wall 42 seated in a rabbet 43formed in the vertical wall 44 of the housing. The metal at the lower end of the upright wall is peened over the edge of the disc 42, as shown 4at 45 to rigidly secure the disc 42 to the housing.

The disc 42 is centrally apertured as at 46 and is provided with an upstanding flared neck 41,

around which'the lower-.most coil of the spring 39 is wound. The connection between the spring 39 and disc 42. just described, provides means whereby the spring is maintained in position on the disc, and the flange 4| on the backing disc prevents the upper end of the spring from becoming dislocated. The spring 39 is composed of very light gage spring wire, the tension of which is merely sufficient to hold the disc valve upon its seat.

The hollows in the post 2G, the stud 36, the housing 34 and the disc 42 provide an air passage from the exterior of the vacuum breaker to the interior -of the: container.

In use the'container is filled through the neck IU by rst raising the closure therefrom, after which the spring I8 is permitted to swing the lever l5 down and thereby seat the closure upon-the upper edge of the neck.

pivotal connection between the. .container and a suitable stand'SIywhei-'eby the container may be tilted when pouringcutlthe contents.

iI-Iaving thus described Imy invention, it `is obvious that various .immaterial modifications may be maderin thesamexwithout departing from the spritof my invention; hence, I. do not wish to be understood as limiting myself' tothe'exact form, construction, aarrangement zand combination' of parts hereirrshownand described or uses mentioned.

What I claimasnewand-'desire .to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A containerl"havingV a -i'iller opening neck, Ia cover for closingV the openinglin the'ne'cla hole low post having its lower fendsecured-to said cover, a levcr-.pivotallyl mounted on the container and being formed with a` socket-to receive the post, a Ipin connecting the lever with the post, there being clearancebetweeni the'V pin and wall of the post for the adm-issionof air to the interior of the post, means for yieldably holding the cover on the neck,a h ousingwithin -the neck Ahaving a hollowscrew threaded stud threadedly mounted i-n said lpost. with Vthe hollowbf' the-.stud 4providing communication' between'the'hollow of the post and the interior lofthe housing, the latter having a top wall formed on its underfacezwith an annular valve seat, a'di-scvalve adapted to seat upon said seat,-`the=lower endaof said `housing having an apertured-wall securedv thereto, and a light coiled compressionfspring secured. on said apertured wall andbearingagainst saiddisc valve, whereby to yieldably` seat Isaid disc valve.

'2. A container having-a` filler opening-neck, a cover provided with a gasket for closing and sealing the opening inthe neck,a hollow post having on its lower en'd a hollownecksecured ina hole insaid cover, a lever pivotally mounted on the container and being formed 'with asocket vto `receive the post, a'cotterpin` connecting the lever with the post,l there" being clearance between the pin and wallof the post' for the admission of air .to the' interior of thepost. meansfor y'ieldably holding the cover on.' the-neck;v ahousing within the neck' having .a..hollow fscrewthreaded stud threadedly mounted in saidfpost with 'the hollow of the studv providing communication Ybetween the lhollow of the postuand the=-interior of the housing, .theE .latter :having i atten-wall" formed on zits on its lower end a hollow neck secured in a hole .insaid cover, a lever pivotally mounted on the container and being formed with a socket to receive .the .postga cotter pin connecting the lever fwith'the post, there being clearance between the pin andwall of the post for the admission of air to thebinterior-v of the post, means for yieldablff holding the cover on the neck, a housingr within theneck having a hollow screw threaded stud threadedly mounted in said post with the hollow of thestud providingconimunication between the hollow-'of the postand the'interior of the .housing,: .the latter, having a `top .wall formed. on its underface with anannular rib ofA tapering `cross section providing an annular valve seat, a `disc valvehaving a ldisc` of pliable .material adapted to seat upon said seat, the lower end of said housing-having an apertured wall secured thereto, and alight coiled compression spring secured on said apertured wall and bearing. against said disc valve, whereby to yieldablyseatsaid disc valve.

4. A container having a filler opening neck, a cover'provided with a gasket for closing and sealing the opening in the neck, a .hollow post having on its lower end a hollow neck secured in a hole in said. cover, a lever pivotally mounted on the container and being formed with a socket to receive the post, a cotter .pin connecting the lever with the'post, there being clearance between the pin and'wall'of the post for the admission of air to the .interior of the post, means for yieldably holding the `cover-0n the neck, a housing within the neck having. a hollow screw threaded stud threadedly mounted insaid .post with the hollow of' the stud .providing communication between the hollow of the post and the interior yof the housing, 'the latter `having a top wall formed on yits underface with an annular valve seat, a disc valve having a disc Yof pliable material adapted to seat upon said seat, and a flanged backing disc carrying said pliable disc, the lower end of said housinghaving an apertured wall secured thereto, and a light coiled compression spring securedon said apertured wall and bearing against the'fiangedbacking'disc of vsaid disc valve, whereby to yieldably seat said disc valve.

WILLIAM A. IIEBUS.

REFERENCES CITE-D The following references are of record 4in the iile of this. patent:

Y.UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,464,230 Wightman Aug. '7, 1923 1,487,518 Nichols Mar. 18, 1924 2,089,251 De Frees Aug. 10, 1937 2,133,200 Kenneweg Oct. 11, 1938 2,314,330 Eshbaugh et al. Mar; 23, 1943 2,351,526 Lebus June 13,' 1944 2,856,327 Lebus Aug. 22, 1944 2,406,502 Lines Aug. Y27, 1946 

